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Ladycats sophomore Madison Verst is greeted by head coach Jessica Verst following her game-winning hit against Ryle on April 15. Photo provided by Pete Wigginton.
By: Sam McClanahan
The Pendleton County Ladycats have reached the midway point of the regular season and appear to be hitting their stride.
The team is now 12-5 and won five of its last six including a home doubleheader sweep that featured two consecutive game-winning hits to defeat Ryle. Pendleton County began their week by hosting district foe Robertson County on April 10 in a home doubleheader and the Ladycats had little difficulty in completing a sweep as they won both contests 15-0 in three innings. In game one, seventh grader Jessa Gerhardstein took the ball and allowed one hit in picking up the victory. She also drove in two runs and scored three times. Eighth grader Riley Browning Lee the offense as she had three RBI's and Mylie Honnert finished 2 for 3 with two runs driven in. Seventh grader Kinly Cooper also scored three times. In game two, Hannah Spaulding pitched a shutout while totaling eight strikeouts. The offense would be led by Gerhardstein who drove in three runs and Kinly Cooper and Maddy Musk who both drove in two runs each.
On April 12, the Ladycats traveled to Bracken County and scored an 11-0 win over the Lady Bears. Senior Kayley Bruener pitched five innings and allowed just one hit in picking up the victory. She also had two hits including a double. Reagan Anderson along with Honnert and Spaulding each drove in two runs apiece.
The Ladycats traveled to face Simon Kenton on April 13 and would fall 4-2. Defensive errors plagued Pendleton County during this game as the pitching duo of Bruener and Spaulding would not allow an earned run. Honnert along with junior Avery Himes drove in the two runs for the Ladycats.
On April 15, the team hosted Ryle in a doubleheader and would pull out two dramatic wins. In game one, sophomore Madison Verst would club her second home run of the season and later step up to the plate to deliver a walk-off game winning triple to lift her team to a 3-2 victory. Logan Cooper went 3 for 4 at the plate, and Maddy Musk also added a pair of hits. Kayley Bruener would pitch a complete-game striking out 11 batters while allowing no earned runs. In game two, it would be Reagan Anderson who would be the hero as she would send the team to a 5-4 win in eight innings. Anderson finished 2 for 4 at the plate and drove in a team-high three RBI's. Logan Cooper and Honnert also delivered two hits each while Spaulding pitched a complete-game to get the win.
This week, the Ladycats travel to Cynthiana to take on arch rival Harrison County in a pivotal matchup on April 17. On April 20, the girls travel to take on Lexington Catholic and will wrap up the week by competing in the Bart Rison Classic on April 22. Pendleton County is slated to face Johnson Central, Dixie Heights and Woodford County.